Whether in person or virtual this year, school has either already started or is right around the corner. Getting outdoors can provide more than just a fun break for kids and teens. It’s also good for their physical and mental health as well as development. Kids who spend time enjoying the great outdoors can be physically and mentally healthier, have a more positive attitude, and be more engaged in learning. While the weather is still nice, keep your kid’s mind and body active with these fun outdoor activities.
- 1. Go on a Scavenger Hunt: This can even be done in your own backyard! Create a checklist of animals, birds, trees, and plants that can be found in your area such as salamanders, grey squirrels, robins, cardinals, sugar maple, 4 leaf clover, dandelion, etc. Once you have the list compiled, go out into the yard with your children and see how many different species you can identify.
- 2. Create Nature Sculptures: Go out into your yard with your kids and collect the materials they would like to make their sculpture out of. A nature sculpture can be built with twigs, leaves, cones, rocks, and really anything you can find outside. Your kids can create their sculpture by sticking the collected items into a play dough base or by using rope or twine to tie the collected pieces together.
- 3. Start Secret Spy Missions: Create an online or text group that consists of your children's friends’ parents who want to participate and organize "secret spy missions" for the kids. One family will go on a walk with sidewalk chalk, drawing arrows and letters along the way, leaving clues to spell out a super-secret message. The other family must then follow the arrows along the way to record the letters and decode the message. You can do it with different friends each week and switch up who leaves the message and who gets to decode it.
- 4. Take Story Time Outdoors: Grab a blanket to sit on, some snacks and drinks, books and find a quiet, shady spot to read to your children outside. Try to pick books that talk about nature and help your kids make connections to what your reading by pointing out things that you see in your yard.
- 5. Go for a Bike Ride: Riding a bike is great exercise and fun for kids of all ages! Take your bike ride up a level and add the ABC Game. While riding, once person starts with A and names something they see that begins with that letter, such as Apple Tree. Then the next person goes onto the letter B, and so on, until your ride is over.
- 6. Visit a Park: Live locally? Take the kids to Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve for a hike or to go canoeing now through September. If your not local, check with the parks in your area for their hours and if they have any restrictions at this time.
It’s important to take care of yourself and those around you. However, at the same time we still must do the activities safely that make life worth living. No matter what you’re doing, we urge you to stay safe and have fun with the people you love!
